Karnataka CM Orders BMRCL to review metro fare hikes amid public outcry

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to reassess and reduce metro fares where increases are deemed excessive. The move comes after widespread public dissatisfaction following a fare revision that saw ticket prices rise by up to 50% in February.

The revised fare structure, implemented on February 9, marked the first increase since June 2017, with an average hike of 51.55% before discounts and around 45-46% after discounts. However, some commuters reported fare hikes exceeding 100% on certain routes, sparking a wave of protests on social media, with many calling for a boycott of metro services.

Expressing concern over these fare anomalies, Siddaramaiah stated on X, “The way BMRCL has implemented the Namma Metro fare revision has resulted in unfair increases, with fares more than doubling in some sections. I have instructed BMRCL Managing Director Maheshwar Rao to urgently address these issues and lower fares where necessary to protect commuters’ interests.”

In response, Rao clarified that while a complete fare rollback is unlikely, adjustments will be made by merging certain fare stages. “The fare hike was based on a study and recommendation by the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC). However, we will review and modify fare stages where increases have been 45-50% or more,” he said.